RT Journal Article
T1 Use of preventive measures, beliefs and information received about COVID-19 and their effects on mental health, in two stages of the pandemic in Colombia
A1 Gómez Salgado, Juan
A1 Pomares Herrera, Fredy
A1 Fagundo Rivera, Javier
A1 Ortega Moreno, Mónica
A1 García Iglesias, Juan Jesús
A1 Ruiz Frutos, Carlos
AB Background: Several studies have highlighted the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on bothphysical and mental health. The aim of this study is to analyse the effects on mental health intwo phases of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020 and February 2021) in the populationof Colombia.Methods: Observational, prospective, cross-sectional study along two periods, April 2020 andFebruary 2021. The sample (N=1309) was extracted from the Colombian population, onlyincluding individuals over the age of 18 and residing in Colombia during the pandemic. TheIMPACTCOVID-19 questionnaire was used, previously validated in Spain and cross-culturallyadapted to the Colombian population, which included sociodemographic data, use of preventivemeasures, information received and the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) forpsychological distress (PD). Participants had to sign an informed consent before taking part inthe investigation.Results: A higher level of PD was observed among women (M=3.99, SD = 3.39) (p<.001), inthose who lived without a partner (M=3.83, SD = 3.47) (p = .036), and in those with a worseperception of health (M=6.27, SD = 3.51) (p<.001). PD decreased in the second period fromM=3.99 (SD = 3.36) to M=2.98 (SD = 3.30) (p<.001), coinciding with a higher use of preventivemeasures, less distress caused by COVID-19 and greater confidence in healthcare professionalsand clinical structures. In the second period, the time spent in getting informed decreased,but the sources of information were the same, principally social media and official sources.Conclusions: Better information on the effects and preventive measures to prevent the pandemicimproves confidence in the health system and its professionals, reducing the level of PD.There is a need for quality information on social networks and an adaptation of telemedicine toaddress the pandemic effects on mental health.
PB Taylor and Francis Group
SN 0785-3890
SN 1365-2060 (electrónico)
YR 2022
FD 2022
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/22031
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/22031
LA eng
NO Gómez-Salgado, J., Pomares-Herrera, F., Fagundo-Rivera, J., Ortega-Moreno, M., García-Iglesias, J. J., & Ruiz-Frutos, C. (2022). Use of preventive measures, beliefs and information received about COVID-19 and their effects on mental health, in two stages of the pandemic in Colombia. In Annals of Medicine (Vol. 54, Issue 1, pp. 2245-2257). Informa UK Limited. https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2022.2109057
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 30 may 2026